Arsenal made the right call in avoiding Dusan Vlahovic transfer

Arsenal chose not to sign Dusan Vlahovic during the winter transfer window despite persistent links to the Juventus striker. While fans and pundits speculated about a potential move, the Gunners ultimately decided against it, avoiding a costly mistake.

According to football.london,the North London club had been interested in Vlahovic since January 2022, but the Serbian forward opted for Juventus over Arsenal at the time.

This decision may have played a role in Arsenal’s reluctance to pursue him again, as manager Mikel Arteta prioritizes players eager to join the club.

Additionally, Vlahovic’s recent form has raised concerns. Over the last year, he ranks in the 36th percentile among strikers in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90 minutes (0.32). Comparatively, Arsenal’s Kai Havertz, who has also faced scrutiny for his finishing ability, is in the 69th percentile with a rate of 0.48.

Furthermore, the financial aspect was another key factor. Vlahovic is reportedly the highest-paid player in Serie A, earning approximately £310,000 per week. Given his struggles in front of goal, Arsenal would have found it difficult to justify such an investment.

Instead of relying solely on Vlahovic, Juventus signed Randal Kolo Muani on loan from PSG. The French forward quickly made an impact, scoring three goals in two games and relegating Vlahovic to the bench. This further confirmed that Arsenal were right to avoid spending big on a player struggling for form.

Despite not signing a new forward, Arsenal remain competitive. Their attacking depth includes Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah, and Kai Havertz, while Arteta continues to explore future options. By avoiding Vlahovic, the club kept its financial flexibility intact for potential summer acquisitions.

In hindsight, Arsenal’s decision to pass on Vlahovic appears to be the correct one, preventing them from repeating past transfer mistakes.